Underground automotive engine



H. AND R. BRETON.

UNDERGROUND AUTOMOTIVE'ENGINE.

APPLICATION4 FIL D NOV. 1'4, 1917.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922'.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. AND R. BRETON.

UNDERGROUND AUTOMOTIVE. ENGINE.

I APPLICATION FILED NOV-14| T917.

Patented Mar. 7,' 1922.

5 SHEETS--SNEET'y 2.

ffl I L Qf I ' I C)y a0 gj.' m yV0'L af-S1 gi; I fw mm"n um f1 'I H. AND RJBRETON. UNDERGROUND AUTOMOTIVE ENGINE.

l APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14| 1917. 1,408,720. Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- H. AND II. BRETON. UNDERGROUND AUTOMOTIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOVI4| 1917i Paf/Buted Mar. 7, 1922.

IIYII @wat @man QUA/4 a )W7/U H. AND R| BRETON. UNDERGROUND AUTOMOTIVE ENGINE.,v v APPLICATION FILED Nov. I4. IQII. 1,408,720.

PATENT OFFICE.

Heiner BRETON .ann anni; Bannion, or Peers, rennen.

Application filed November 1.4, 1917.

To all 7.1i 71 o n t 'it m n.11/ cfm cern s Be it lrnoufn that We, l-lnsrni BRETON and REN BRETON, citizens oi the Republic oil France, residing in Paris, France. have invented certain new and usetul linprm'ements in Underground Automotive Engines, ol' which the following' is a specification.

The object of the present invention is an automobile engine, which may be charged With explosive material, adapted to move under ground by its oivn means a predetermined distance in the required direction and at the desired depth. YWhen it has arrived at the end of its travel the subterranean eneine automatically stops and signals its arrival. ploded by one or more explosions at the de sired moment.

The travel ot the subterranean torpedo is as silent as possible so that nothing should signal to the enemy the approach ot one or more oil. these machines.

The machine has usually a maximum range of 1000 metres, but this can be increased.

A construction. ot subterranean torpedo according to the invention is shown in the accompanying Figs. 1 1() which represent, respectively Fig. 1, a sectional elevation through the longitudinal axis oi the torpedo;

Fig. 2, plan partly in section;

Fig. 3, shows on a larger scale the cuttingf tools secured to an endless chain;

Figs. 4 and 5 show, respectively, in elevation and plan details of the actuating mechanism of the grapnels for advancing; the torpedo;

Fig. 6 shows a detail Ot Fig. el on a larger scale;

Figs. 7, S, 9 and` .l0 relate to a modiiication of the construction oi the torpedo.

Figs. 7 'and 8 show, respectively, in side elevation and in pla-n the. improved torpedo;

Fig. 9 is side elevation on a' larger scale oi. the rear part, the casing having' been partly removed;

Fig'. l0 is a horizontal section centrally ot Fig. 9.

Referring to Figs. L6, the excavating); members consist of a series of cutting;` tools secured to an endless chain passing over two toothed driving Wheels o disposed on each side at the front of the torpedo.

These cutting tools are formed of the Specification of Letters Patent.

lts explosive charge can then be enf UNDERGROUND AUTOMTIVE ENGINE.

Patented Mar. '7, 19255.

serial no. 202,078.

shape shown and occupy nearly all the width of the machine (Fig. 2); they carry hardened steel blades adapted to cut the hardest materials. K

@n leaving` the toothed. Wheels 7), the chain, which is provided on each side with pin joints c, passesI over a @guide casino` a?.

This casing guides the chainv by the upper and external part oi" the machine to the rear, and returns in an Oblique direction under the machine to the toothed Wheels ZL Laterally, the rchain passes between tivo cheeks or side walls e which serve to protect the pins c and to prevent them from fouling.

@n the external side of each toothed Wheel Y) is an integral ext .nsion. in the forni of a platev f provided with hardened steel blades adapted to cut a passage ttor the cheeks c.

At the rear oi the machine is a movable back plate g hinged `at 71.. having a knife edge which rubs constantly on the cha-inc and is maintained in this position by means of two arms j and springs 1. f

For the propulsion of the torpedo, grappling irons la, 2, 3, da are arranged :it the top and bottom of the tivo sides.

The irons, pivoted at Z, are each mounted on a steel slide block m which moves in a slideivay n.

rlhe grappling irons project through apertures o provided in the Wall c. VThey are provided With arms i) to which are hooked springs q. llach spring); is disposed in a .tube f/Z (Fig. l) passinnfto the rear entrain ity ot the torpedo.

VOn each arm p is pivoted a rod r enclosed in a tube s, so that the rods can turn rolatively to one another'. o. f i

The tube s carries a collarhavingr a lug t in which is pivoted a rod u, the other end ot which is connected to a sliding; block w, coinprising a halt nut w1 provided with two arms o. A rod n" isv adapted to slide in a longitudinal aperture in the block fw and, according as it is pulled in the one or other direction` raises or lowers the halt nut w1 which is threaded to engage with a screw c1.

The screw c1 has a continuous rotary movement which is communicated to it by a motor [o1 through a beveled pinion 011. rlhie external face of this pinion carries a projection e1 with inclined. faces Whichwll push the rod nl towards the right when the block 'fw has been brought to r1 by the springs g. The rod nl when brought to abut most position.

' Fig. 4, the rod is moved to the lett and the nut w1 is permitted toV drop to its lower- When the plug w reaches the other limit of its movement, the lett hand end of the rod nl engages the projec-p tion @1 during Jthe rotation ol' thelatterv and is. actuated thereby to the right,fagain torcing the nut w1 upwardly toV the'position shown in Fig. 6.

The entire system is thus freed and the springs Q can exert their tractive force. This produces atlirst a rotation of the grappling irons la, 2a, 3a', fia about their axes', causing them to penetrate into the soil.

As each grappling iron is independently pivoted it can accommodate itself to the nature of the ground which it encounters. Whenthe half nut w1 has again engaged with the screw c1, the pull exerted on the arm p disengages the grapplings which are witl drawn within the casing. Y

In this movement the springs g are stretched until the half nut w1 is .again die engaged from cl and the advance above de- Ascribed recommences.

The frontpart of the machine rests on a plate 71,1 which serves as a guide; at the rear it rolls on rollers g1. rotating at about 1200 revolutions per minute, placed in the centre oit the torpedo, drives by a worin g1 bevel pinions r1 and the screw Vcl, a worm S1 on which drives a Worm Wheel t1.

`The wheel t1 is keyed on a shaft u1 which.

may be provided with a stumng boi; which enables the advance toA be effected evenV in a very wet district. It turns on two ball bearings o1 and carries Onits ends toothed h Wheels b and cutting plates f which rotate at the rate of about one revolution per minute.

On each side of the toothed wheel t1 are arranged two bcbbins or reels insulated from the shaft and from the side walls.

On each of these bobbins which are loose on their axesy is wound an insulated electric lead,the length of which on one bobbin corresponds exactly to the distance which it is required to send the torpedo. On the other bobbinseveral metres more of theV lead areV Wound. Y i Y i Y l One end of each lead is connected to the bobhin on which it is wound, the other end passing by a tube in either side wall tothe rear of. the torpedo at lol.

The electric motor p Oneach side oil' the bobbins an insulated Y spring brush l makes contact. This brush is connected to a terminal of the motor. The lead which is connected to the bobbin having the greatest length of wire is connected at the other end to a terminal of an electric detonator jl.

The action is as tollowsz-The length oi' lead being regulated according to the distanceV to be reached, a hole in the ground is dug of the size ot the machine and the torpedo is placed in it pointing exactly in the required direction. The hole is filled up, the earth being rammed particularly against the sides and rear or the machine. The current is then turned on to the electric motor ,t1 which is set in motion, driving the endless chain, of which the cutting'tools `remove the earth Jfrom in front towards the rear of the torpedo.

Each blade as it inclines drives the earth from the following cutter and heaps. it at the rear of the machine, where the movable bach plate g forms a fulcrum, thus helping at: each passage of the blade or link by its movement fromy iront toA rear, the travel ot .the machine. I

machine' are unwouinl and `are embedded in the material placed at the rear of thetor edo. l When the shortest of the two cables is unwound from its bobbin, the machine being at the end of its travel, this cable breaks at a predetermined point.

The current at this instant is interrupted and the ammeter, for example, Vwill give Vnotice of the arrival of the torpedo at its goal. Y

The other cable, the longer one,will still be attached toits bobbin and by the plug jl to the terminal of the electric detonator. A current can be sent at the required Vmo ment by this cablewhich will Aproduce the explosion ot the charge placed in :rl-

The construction shown m Figs, 7-10 Vshows modifications intended to improve the propulsion, excavation .and evacuation of the material, to ensure a more effective piling of the excavated material at the rear et the torpedo and to ensure that the required inclination to the horizontal is automatically maintained. y

In the modification the torpedo consists of an envelope or box 1 of parallelepiped form made of sheet and cast steel or of any other suitable material containing and forming a Jframe vfor the diterent mechanical meinist bers. As in the preceding example, on the upper forward part of this boi; are disposed the cutting devices and at its rear part the arrangements for depositing the material.

The excavating arrangement consists of a cha-in with automatic disengagement, of which the construction and functions have been described above. As in the former eX- ample, this chain 2 provided in the box 1, has plates on each side thereof and cutting blades Lt slightly projecting in relation to the sides or cheeks of the box in order to ensure a suiiiciently wide passage for the torpedo. The internal face of each of these plates has a toothed wheel engaging with the endless excavating chain 2 supported and driven by a driving drum At the upper central part of the torpedo there is another endless chain 6 guided by drums 15 similar to chain 2 but smaller. rlhe object of this second chain is to rapidly tran-sport to the rear the disintegrated materials which are thrown on it by means of an inclined plane by the chain Y2 on its passage over the drum 5. rllhe drum 5 is driven by one of the drums 15 of the evacuating chain 6 by a transmission chain 7.

The arrangement for piling up the material excavated in this way comprises a circillar plate 8 forming the rear part of the torpedo, to which a continuous rotation about its axis is imparted. On this plate are disposed crosswise four similar cones 9, rotated by the plate S and also having' a movement of rotation about their own Xes. These cones are driven at a speed equal to that which they would have if they rolled without sliding on a supple'- mentary conical surface under the action of the plate 8.

By the simultaneous action of these cones a suitable disposition of the broken up material. is obtained which prevents any choking of the excavating and evacuating members and consequently any premature arrest of the torpedo.

Two of the cones 9 may be and preferably are channeled for the purpose of breaking up the clods ot' earth orstones, in order to expedite the piling up.

The plate Scarries a bevel wheel vlO'by which it is driven and turns on a fixed shaft 11 on which it is mounted by ball bearings.

lt is also supported against the reaction of the heaped up material by rollers l2 carried l l the'back plate of the torpedo.

The cones 9 are driven by means of a fixed bevel wheel 13 keyed to the shaft 11 and gearing with planet pinions lit which are integral with the Cones 9.

'At its lower part the torpedo rests by means of four rods 16 on a frame 17 carrying drums 18 over which an endless chain 19 passes. This chain occupies nearly all the width of the torpedo and is similar to the chain 6.

T he points of this chain, by reason of the weight of the machine, penetrate into the soil which has just been excavated and acting like grapnels form fulcrumsl which ensure the progression of the torpedo.. is the chain is disengaged from the soil, since. unlike the preceding. it is not automatically unclutched, it prevents even in soft ground any accumulation of material between the links which might give rise to sudden stoppages. n

The chain 19 is driven by means of a transmission 'chain 20 through a toothed wheel 21 and a pinion 22 gearing with anothertoothed wheel 23 which is integral with the driving drum 16.

The two rear rods 16 are pivotcd at 24 on the frame 17 and on a secondary driving shaft 57. The two forward rods 16 are ypivoted at 27 on the f ame and on pins 29 carried by a shaft 30. 'At the middle of this shaft a worm wheel 31 is secured which` engages with a worm 32 .forming one of the extremities of a longitudinal shaft 33, terminating at the other end at a principal shaft 26 to which it is connected by a clutch arrangement placed under the control of a pendulum 3e, with the object of automati-l cally ensuring the maintenance of the con rect depth, as will be explained. later.

The pendulum 34, electrically insulated and connected to one of the terminals .4:5 of the electric motor, is placed in an interior compartment 35 of the box 1. It can move between two arms 36 of a slide block ST, which latter is controlled relatively to a ixed graduated sector 38 'acting as a slide. Each of the arms $36 carries an adjustableplatinized screw). 4t() which always leaves a certain play between itself and the pendulum.V Each of these platinized screws is insulated from thc slide block and is connected by a lead Lil, a2 to one of two electromagnets lf3 or la `which are corr nected to another terminal e6 of the motor. The electromagnets 43, can rotate in the one or other direction a sleeve 47 on the shaft 33 by their action on a lever with two soft iron arms integral with the sleeve 47, rlhese movements bring .a pinion lr6 carried by the member 11-7 into engagement either,` with a pinion 419 Yor' with a pinion 50, both of which are continuously rotated by the shaft 26 on which they are keyed. rEhe pinion 48, by` means of another pinion 51 carried by the same shaft, determines thc rotation in the one or other direction of a third pinion 52 keyed to the extremity of the shaft 38. Normally, under the influence of a spring 64C (Fig. 10), the sleeve 4l? Aoccupies a mean position in which the `lever ico ilo

with the two arms is horizontal and theV pinion 48 is not in gear with either of the pinions 49 or 50.

The principal shaft 26 which drives these devices is driven itself by an electric motor 544, through r a Worm 55 and a Worm Wheel. 5G. rEhe shaft 26 consists of a tubular part turning with the aid of ball bearings on secondary shaft 57. lt carries besides the Worm wheel 56 at one-end the female 'part 58 of a clutch and a toothed Wheel 74, and at its other end the two bevel Wheels i9 and 5l).

The secondary shaft 57 is also mountedinV ball bearings in the frame 1. At one end there is keyed Vto ita toothed Wheel 59, driving through a chain 60 the evacuating and excavating members, and the male part 6l of the clutch which was mentioned above mounted so as to be able to slide freely without turning. This male part is constantly urged into engagement with the female part :78 by a spring 62. At the other end of the shaft 51 is mounted similarly a male part- 63 urged by a spring @l of `a clutch similar to that which is just mentioned, of which the female part 65 is mounted loose on the same shaft and carries externally Va toothed Wheel v66 drivingthe transmission chain 20.

Each male part 61v and 63 of the tuo clutches has a hub with a circular groove in which pins on the end Vof a fork 67 or the second by a pull. These pins constitute thus elasticabutments, oivingr tothe springs 62 and 640i' the clutches, and their displacevment onlyfoccurs when the thrust or pull of the'frame is sufficient to Vovercomethe resistance of the springs.`

vAs in the torpedo previously described,

the conductingelectricleads are Wound on two insulated bobbins mounted on the shaft 73 which connects the two 'cutting plates 3. These leads are univound, are embedded in the earth als the torpedo advances, and emerge at the rear part of it. l

The action of the torpedo in this modification is as follows z-eThe torpedo being placed in the entrance of a gallery dug in the soil, and turned in the required direction, and the vertical direction beiner ensured by the setting of the slide block 37 relatively to the graduations Aof the sector 38, according to the required inclination With the horizontal, 'the electric circuit is ener-- gized.

The shaft 25 is continuously rotated by the Y toothed Wheels 7e and and the bevell pinions 76 and 1() drive the plate 8. Y

The torpedo is set in movement and the material broken up in front by the chain 2-is received by the chain 6` which rapidly conducts it to the rear, Where it falls into the space included between the cones 9, the back f the heaped up earth, and the rotary plate 8.

By Vtheir combined 'movement the cones heap the disintegrated material as it arl rives against the back of the earth already piled.

During` the Work of excavating', evacuating and piling, the torpedo, moved by the propeiling,r chain 19, progresses, maintaining thus a suitable contact between the Working' front and the knives of the excavating chain 2.

The frame 17 is Vunited to the torpedo by the rods 16 which enable it-to be displaced relatively `to the body of the 'lattera Also, the pinsV Z1 and 72 which are the only points of Contact betWeen't-he body of the torpedo and the frame, are arranged relatively to this frame', so asv only to have their position modified, 71 by the thrust, 72` by the pull, of this frame.y when this thrust or pulll attain a certain predetermined value, and also the pin 7 2 constitutes the connection which permits the body of the torpedo to be dravvn by the frame.

In the course of the advance, different cases may occur. Y V

1st, more excavatedmaterial may arrive at the rear of the torpedo than the piling,` means can deal with e'ectually. The cones 9, under the reaction of the eXcessearth, tend to displace the body 'of the torpedo'towards the front more rapidly than the propelling chain 19. preaches the rear side ofthe frame 17 which displaces the pin 71 and consequently 'the fork 'GT overcoming the spring;- 62, and the cone 6l. is unelutched. This unclutching im! mediately determines the stopping;- of the evacuating` chain 6, of the excavating chain 2 and the propelling chain 19.V

During the time-of stoppage, Vthe rotary back plate 8V continues its work ofpiling' rWhile still subjectV to the action of spring 62, Which tends to return it to its original position. As soon as the volume of Vthe earth is suitably reduced, the spring 62 again causes the engagement of thejshafts26 and 57 and the machine resumes its progress.

2nd, it may happen that the torpedo en- VThe back of the torpedo ap-` counters a particularly hard soil. The excavating chain 2, on account of the resistance which it meets in forming the passage for the torpedo, causes a delay in the advance oi the latter relatively to the propelling chair.' l5). rlhe rear oit' the torpedo and the rear side oi: the trame 17 are separated, which displaces the pin 'l2 and consequently the iork 68, compressing the spring 64 and "arising the disengagement o'l the cone 63 and the stoppage ot' the propelling chain i9.

.i`)uring the stoppage, the excavating chain 5, the evacuating chain 6 and the rotary disc 255 continue to act. When the excavating chain 2 has, under the pressure ot spring Gil, suiiiciently broken up the soil, this spring again causes the engagement of the clutch (Si) and the propelling chain resumes its motion.

3rd, the machine moving in the soil, more or less rapidly, according to the nature of the latter, may also bc deviated from the required vertical inclination in depth. lThe action oi the pendulum corrects such possible deviations which might modify the desired etliect due to the explosion of the torpedo.

For example, if the machine tends t0 descend relatively to the required inclination, the pendulum iet preserves automatically its vertical posi-tion and engages with the )latinized screw i() on the slide block 47 which was set in a suitable position at starting.

lfllectrie contact being thus established, current lti.'a\,'erses the electromagnet i4 which attracts the corresponding end ofthe lever 5F25, rotates the member 47, drawing with it the pinion LS and bringing it into engagement with the pinion 49. The pinion l, participating in the rotation ot the pinion it, actuates the longitudinal shaft 83 by means ol the pinion 52, which is keyed on it.

The worm 9,2 keyed at the end of this shaft 3&3 turns by means of the Worm Wheel .I 1 the shaft 3() and consequently the pins 2S) which are placed at its ends. The pins 2) serving as pivots to the forward rods 16 turn then in a direction suitable tor producing a displacement of the frame 17 and the body oit the torpedo, which will thus reestablish the required inclination. W'hen this result is obtained, the pendulum loses contact with the platinized screw 40, the current ceases to pass, and the sleeve l? is brought into its mean position by the spring mentioned above.

The stabilizing system remains constant until a new action of the pendulum modifies it in the same direction as before, or in the other direction, according to the relative positions of the body of the torpedo and of the frame.

In the contrary case to that Which has been considered by Way oit' example, the action of the pendulum produces a contrary rotation of the shaft 33 by the engagement oi' the pinion 48 With the pinion 50 which determines the approach of the frame and of the body of the torpedo.

Finally, the course of the torpedo and the explosion are determined as in the first arrangement, respectively, by the length of one of the conducting leads Wound on the bobbins, and the passage of a current in the second, which is a little longer, after the first has been broken.

lilhile the specific embodiment chosen as the basis of this application is an underground torpedo, and such use constitutes one oi the most important applications of the invention, yet it is to be understood that certain features thereof Will iind important utilities in other instances where it is desired to propel a machine or engine underground, as for accomplishing excavation, or for analogous purposes.

Having thus described the nature of the said invention and the best means We know ot carrying the same into practical effect, We claim l. A subterranean automobile engine comprising a motorcarried by the engine, an external sourceof electric energy, a lead connecting the motor with the said source, an endless chain provided with links having cutting blades for excavating the soil, an endless chain for advancing the engine and an endless chain for transporting the excavated material to the rear of the engine.

L. A subterranean automobile engine com prising a motor carried by the engine, an external source of electric energy, a lead connect-ing the motor with the said source, an endless chain provided with links having cutting blades, and side circular plates at the liront end ot the engine also provided with cuttingblades and means operated by the said motor tor driving the saidendless chain and circular plates to excavate the soil.

ln a subterranean automobile engine, a Vframe carrying an endless chain With teeth adapted to penetrate the `soil and advance the machine, an endless chain with cutting blades to excavate the soil and an endless chain to transport the excavated material to the rear, the said trame being connected to the body ot the engine by pivotedrods.

a. In a subterranean automobile engine, a motor supplied with energy from an exten nal source, a frame connected to the body of the engine by pivoted rods and carried by the said frame, an endless chain provided with cutting blades for excavating the soil, an endless chain for transporting the excavated material and cones at the rear of the engine, both chains being driven by the said motor.

5. In a subterranean automobile engine, a motor supplied With energy from an external source, an endless chain with cutting blades for excavating the soil, an endless chain for transporting the excavated mate rial to the rear, a circular plate rotated about a fixed axis at right angles to its plane by the said motor, and conesA rotated about the same axis bythe said plate and adapted to receive the excavated material and deposit it at the rear of the engine.

6. In a subterranean automobile engine, a

a sourceof electric energy external to the engine, leads connecting the source with the motor, a shaft continuously driven by the motor, endless chains for excavating and transporting the soil and meansV for communicating the motionV of the shaft to the said chains through a clutch urged into engagement by spring pressure. y

8. Asubterranean automobile engine comprising a motor carried by the engine, a source of electric energy external to the engine, leads connecting the source with the motor, a shaft continuously driven by the motor, endless chains for excavating and transporting the soil carried on a frame connected tothe 4body of the engine by pivoted rods, means for communicating the motion of the shaft to the said chains through a clutch urged into engagement by spring pressure and means ley-Which the clutch is brought out of engagement when the frame advancesless rapidly than thebody of the engine.

9. A subterranean automobile engine coin-V prising a motorcarried by the engineya source of electric'energy external to the engine, leads connecting the sourcewith the motor, a shaft continuously driven by the motor, endless chains for excavating and transporting the soil carried on a frame con-4 nected to the body of the engine by pivoted rods, means for communicating the motion of the shaft to the said chains through a clutch urged into engagement by spring pressure,

a shaft disposed near the rear end of the en* gine, a fork engaging with the clutch, a pin carried by an arm on the shaft and adapted to actuate the said fork to bring the clutch outof engagement, when the frame advances less rapidly than the body of the engine.

' l0. A subterranean automobile engine comprising a motor carried by the engine, a source of electric energy externalto the engine, leads connecting the source with the motor, a shaft Vcontinuously driven by the motor, an endless chain with teeth penetrating the soil and adapted te advance the machine, and means for communicating the motion of the shaft to the said chain through a clutch urged into engagement by spring pressure. ll. A subterranean automobile engine comprising a motor carried by the engine, a source-of electric 4energy external to the engine, leads connecting the source with the motor, a shaft continuously driven by the mo tor, an endless chain With teeth penetrating the soil and Vadapted to advance the machine, means for communicating the motion of the shaft to the said chain through a clutch L,

urged into engagement byV spring pressure, and, means by which the clutch is brought out of engagement When the propelling chain advances more rapidly than the body of the engine.

l2. Av subterranean automobile engine comprising a motor carried by the engine, a source of electric energy external to the engine, leads connecting the source with the motor, a shaft Vcontinuously driven by theV motor, endlessfchains for excavating and 1 transpcrting the soil carried on a'frame connected to the body of the .engine by pivoted rods, means for communicating the motion of the shaft to the said chains through a clutch Vurged into. engagement by spring pressure,

a shaft disposed near the rear end of the engine, a fork engaging with the clutch, a pin carried by an arm on the shaft and adapted to actuate the said fork tobring the clutch out of engagement, when the frame advances more rapidly thanthe body of the engine.

'In Witness whereof, We have hereunto signed our names in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

` HENRI BRETON. REN BRETON.

lllitnesses: Y

(finis. PrPnnssLY, HENRI CARTIER. 

